GRAND CANYON, Arizona — Editor's note: The boil water advisory has been lifted as Sept. 1, 2023.
Grand Canyon National Park officials warned that E. coli bacteria was detected Friday in the water supply close to Phantom Ranch, the only lodging at the bottom of the canyon.
Park authorities said visitors should not consume any water in that area without boiling it first. E. coli can lead to diarrhea, cramps, headaches and sometimes kidney failure and even death. Infants, younger children and immuno-compromised people are more at risk.
Water from the Phantom Ranch area — including that being used to brush teeth, make ice and prepare food — should be brought to "a rolling boil" for one minute per 1,000 feet (305 meters) of elevation and then cooled before using, officials said.
Water was also shut off at Manzanita Rest Area and Cottonwood Campground. As of Aug. 31, Phantom Ranch will remain closed through Sept. 1, and no one has been reported sick.
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Phantom Ranch and the immediate vicinity — all reachable only by a long hike or mule ride from the canyon rim or by raft on the Colorado River — are the only areas of the park affected.
Park officials are collecting more sampling to figure out the source of the bacteria and are also chlorinating water in the area again.
E. coli's presence can be caused by increased run-off from heavy rains or a break in pipes or water treatment. It usually indicates human or animal waste contamination.
The Grand Canyon area recently saw heavy rains brought by the remnants of a tropical storm.
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The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
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Arizona Weather
Arizona has seen its fair share of severe weather. Here is a compilation of videos from various storms across the Grand Canyon state.
